In today’s tough economy, unemployment is at record levels. It can be very stressful trying to find a job and adjusting to the changing job market. The state of New York offers unemployment insurance payments to provide financial help to unemployed people that meet the requirements. If you are unemployed in Suffolk County, New York, here are some steps to apply for unemployment.

Gather the following information required to file your claim: name, contact information, social security number, name and address of last employer, date you started working with your last employer, date of final day of work with your last employer, driver’s license number.

Go to the New York State Department of Labor website and access the New York Unemployment Insurance Benefits Online claim form at https://ui.labor.state.ny.us/

Enter your social security number at the bottom of the page to start filing your unemployment insurance claim online.

Fill out the information in the form with the information you gathered in Step 1 and file your claim for unemployment benefits online.

If you cannot file online or need additional information, you can call the New York Telephone Claims Center at 1-888-209-8124. You can also visit your local Suffolk County One-Stop Career Center.